I think of all the rooms in the house, dining room which is least expected to have multiple functionality is expected to host formal parties, be a work zone for crafts and schoolwork, a place for informal meetings and so on. Lighting, seating, table and accessories are all equally important to make this happen. In this page, I wanted to share my thoughts on just one aspect, lighting -- what goes above your dining table.
There are so many lighting choices -- pendants, drums, chandeliers, recess lighting... how do you narrow down them down? I personally lean towards contemporary lighting, but no matter what you pick, certain rules apply to all light fixtures that go above your dining table.
There are so many lighting choices -- pendants, drums, chandeliers, recess lighting... how do you narrow down them down? I personally lean towards contemporary lighting, but no matter what you pick, certain rules apply to all light fixtures that go above your dining table.
- Dining table should get direct lighting, but this light should not be harsh. Bright lighting can make your food look unappetizing. Dimmer is a must to create different shades of light -- from romantic to formal to task lighting.
- Get a light fixture that scales to the table and to the room. Rule of thumb is to get a light fixture that is half the width or diameter of the table itself. If you want to hang two chandeliers above a long table, pick two that are 1/3rd the size of the table each and center them on each end leaving 1/3rd in the middle open.
- Hang it approximately 30-34" above the center of the dining table assuming you have an 8 feet ceiling. You definitely don't want it too low that it blocks the view across, and not too high where the light fixture gets lost in the room.
- There should not be any exposed bulbs.
